Main Services:
Funding and expertise for water-related projects.

Contact Information:
Averill Strasser (COO and RPCV): mail@watercharity.org

English Speaking?: Yes

Institution familiar with Peace Corps/your name?: This is an international NGO/donor that was started by a RPCV, so they are very interested in doing PC projects.

Website: http://appropriateprojects.com/ ; http://watercharity.org/

Additional Details:
In 2009, PC-Thailand recieved two contacts from Mr. Strasser, the first to a 121 PCV, the second two staff. These are reproduced below:

I am COO of Water Charity, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that does water, sanitation, and public health projects worldwide. We have recently started a new initiative, Appropriate Projects, to fund small water and sanitation projects very quickly.

I am a Rturned Peace Corps Volunteer (Bolivia ’66-’68), and am well aware of the difficulties Volunteers face in the field. Water Charity has successfully completed projects of various sizes in cooperation with the Peace Corps. However, it occurred to me that we needed to further simplify the process for volunteers to get things accomplished. This prompted me to develop the Appropriate Projects initiative.

Often there is that little project that must be done now (before the rains start, before school starts, or whatever), but there are no funds available. Traditional funding sources are cumbersome, and there are long forms, detailed requirements, limited resources, and long delays.

Appropriate Projects has a very specific and immediate goal: We want to help you do your favorite project now.

If you are working in water and sanitation, I know you have a bunch of projects lined up. If you are working in other project areas, there are usually water components to your projects, or facilities needed where you work or teach.

Sample projects may be: a rainwater catchment, handwashing stations for a school, water for a clinic, pumps, sinks, latrines, etc.

We also like to “finish” projects that have been started, and “fix” things that have ceased to function.

So, check out the Appropriate Projects website at http://appropriateprojects.com. If you have a project in mind, please fill out the application form. We want this to be easy for you, so we have developed a simple form that you can fill out in one sitting.



_____


Peggy and Jaree:
This is to follow up on a phone conversation I had today with Jake Gambati of your office, whom I am copying on this email.

I am COO of Water Charity, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that does water, sanitation, and public health projects worldwide.

I am a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Bolivia ’66-’68). I am aware of the difficulties Peace Corps faces in carrying out projects, especially in light of current budgetary limitations.

Water Charity has funded Peace Corps projects of various sizes in several countries. We continue to fund projects through the Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP) when projects within our purview are posted. However, we also like to develop alternative means to get funds where they are needed in a timely manner.

Our regular projects may be seen on the Water Charity website. We have recently secured major funding for our activities, and are prepared to expand our work to fund more projects, of a larger scope, in more locations, than previously undertaken.

About 3 months ago we started an initiative, Appropriate Projects, to fund very small water and sanitation projects immediately. You can see that in that time we have funded 20 projects in 16 countries.

Here is an example of a typical project, which shows our ability to react to a critical situation: http://appropriateprojects.com/node/41. A week’s delay would have resulted in a large number of people being left without water until the next thaw.

I do not know the details about your programming areas in Thailand, but I’d like to let you know where we can help. If you have typical Peace Corps water & sanitation or community development programs, we can assist.

If you are more involved in health and education, we can offer assistance for projects where PCVs live, teach or work. Sample projects may be: a rainwater catchment, handwashing stations for a school, water for a clinic, piping, fixtures, pumps, sinks, latrines, etc.

We look for projects where there is some “hardware” involved, but we are OK with an educational and training component as an add-on.

We like to “finish” projects that have been started, and “fix” things that have ceased to function.

We encourage follow-up projects that expand upon the successful completion of the first small project.

We look for impact on critical needs, and sustainability built into the project.

To summarize, we have made it easy for PCVs to apply to Appropriate Projects for immediate assistance on projects up to $500.

As mentioned previously, with our new financial support, we are now prepared to provide funding for larger projects as well. The best way to start this would be if you could provide me with a summary of a package of projects in need of funding. At this time, for each included project, a simple explanation of the project concept, timetable, and dollar amount would suffice.

We will react at once, and we can work together on the details for the projects that fit within our purview.

If you wish to discuss this further by telephone, I would be happy to call you at a time convenient to you. We are in California, so I believe you are 14 hours ahead of us.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
Averill

Averill Strasser, COO

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